The Second India Revisited: Population, Poverty, and Environmental Stress Over Two Decades

This article presents an overview of population growth poverty and environmental stress in India based on a Ford Foundation eight-volume comprehensive and systematic study of the consequences of population growth in India. The summary report is based on individual studies on demography urbanization the economy agriculture water energy industry services and separate regional studies. Plausible scenarios that link development across sectors are projected through the year 2000. The author finds that the "Second India Study" proves the value of a comprehensive study of population growth effects and underscores the value of humility in estimating future impacts. The Second India Study identifies key policy issues that must be addressed. The study concludes that poverty and population growth are feasible if the strategy involves solving difficult and longstanding social and institutional problems. The study authors emphasize that neither the technology available nor the availability of natural resources were a requirement for raising living standards for a doubled population. Government must choose policies that increase rapid employment growth as an effective tool in reducing poverty and malnutrition. Successful family planning efforts will depend upon government investment in education and health for reducing poverty. Pressure on common property resources could be reduced by promoting community woodlots biogas plants and rural electrification. India could expand irrigated lands without environmental damage. "The evidence suggests that rapid demographic transition poverty alleviation and development can occur simultaneously even in poor and populous countries." The challenges are harder to meet but not impossible to meet. The key features of a successful development strategy include a social framework made up of social norms economic arrangements policies and institutions of governance.